This indicator provides information on the use of a local language in the family and private sphere. This can reveal the degree to which the local language is used beyond the public sphere and the workplace.
From an integration perspective, an increase in the share of people using at least one local language in the family setting indicates an improved situation.
The population without a migration background is more likely to speak a local language at home than the population with such a background. The percentage of people belonging to the second or subsequent generations who use a local language at home is 1.7 times higher than that of people belonging to the first generation.
Since 2010, the percentage of people usually speaking a local language at home has decreased in all the population groups studied. This decline is more significant among the population with a migration background belonging to the first generation.
In all language regions, the population without a migration background is more likely to speak a local language at home than the population with such a background. The greatest difference is found in the Romansh-speaking region and the smallest in the Italian-speaking region.
Local language: is defined as the language predominantly spoken in the commune according to the state of the language regions in 2016.
This indicator measures the percentage of the permanent resident population aged 15 and over speaking a local language at home or with friends and family.
It is based on the following question from the structural survey: "What language(s) do you habitually speak at home/with your relatives? (more than one answer is possible)”. At home, the local languages considered are: Swiss German dialect, Italian, Ticino or Grisons Italian dialect, French and Rhaeto-Romansh.
